Larkin - Churchgoing and High Windows

Authors Avatar

PHILIP LARKIN (1922-1985)

BIOGRAPHY

Philip Larkin was born in Coventry, England, in 1922.  He was (and still is) one of the most well-known and widely read poets in England, yet his writing and personal politics are also quite controversial.  

He was a poet, novelist, and critic, a leading figure of 'The Movement,' term coined to describe a group of British poets that coalesced during the 1950s. 'The Movement' poets addressed everyday British life in a plain, straightforward language and often in traditional forms.

He was educated at King Henry VIII School where he wrote for the school magazine. At the age of 18 he entered St. John's College Oxford, where he studied English and met Kingsley Amis. After graduating he became a librarian. Larkin wrote nearly continuously throughout his adult life, but he also made his living as a librarian for several university libraries.  

As a poet Larkin made his debut with the collection THE NORTH SHIP in 1945, written using short lines and carefully worked-out rhyme schemes. It was published at his own expense. The sad songs showed the influence of Yeats. It was followed by two novels, JILL (1946) and A GIRL IN WINTER (1947).

Among Larkin's major works are THE LESS DECEIVED (1955) and THE WHITSUN WEDDINGS (1964), in which the title-poem describing the poet's journey by train from Hull to London is his best-known works. Larkin used the tones and rhythms of ordinary speech, and focused on the urban landscape of the industrial north.

Although he had number of affairs, Larkin feared marriage and family, never married and was known for being a bit of loner.  He managed to maintain three long relationships - most of his life Larkin spent with Monica Jones whom he met when he was 24. In 1974 he bought a house in Hull, which he shared with his companion Monica Jones. Larkin's mother died in 1977, and after her death he wrote only 11 poems, although he produced a book of essays.

Join now!

In addition to poetry, Larkin had a lifelong admiration for jazz, evidenced by his nonfiction book, All What Jazz: A Record Diary.  Although he received and accepted numerous awards for his writing, Larkin refused to accept the nomination as England's Poet Laureate.

When Larkin died from cancer in 1985, a great deal of his poems was left unpublished.  However, Anthony Thwaite edited a book of Larkin's collected poems, many of which were previously unpublished. Thwaite also edited a collection of Larkin's personal correspondence. The publishing of the book of letters sparked many people in the literary realm to ...

This is a preview of the whole essay